The people who can afford to pay more for their health care should do so, according to the Federal Health Minister Peter Dutton, who has raised the prospect of patients topping up the cost of visits to their doctor.

With the Federal health care system currently costing $140 billion a year, and the Medicare levy only raising $10 billion, Minister Dutton argues new solutions need to be found.

Minister Dutton says he is just embarking on a national discussion about how to deal with the cost of health care system, however critics argue that moving to a system of GP co-payments represents the beginning of the dismantling of the Medicare system.

Health Director with The Grattan Institute, Dr Stephen Duckett, says the move will discourage the most disadvantaged from visiting the doctor and could end up saving no money, if the burden shifts to hospitals.